When Carrot Met Cookie

by Erica S. Perl, Jonathan Fenske (Illustrations)

Can a vegetable and a dessert really be friends? Find out in this sweet story of solidarity!

Cookie and Carrot are a true dynamic duo. Carrot teaches Cookie how to dip (in hummus), and Cookie teaches Carrot how to dunk (in milk). But when Cookie and Carrot's other pals make fun of their friendship, the two start to wonder if different food groups can ever really be friends. Packed with plenty of puns, this satisfying tale of acceptance and forgiveness will leave kids asking for more.

Exciting, easy-to-read books are the stepping stone a young reader needs to bridge the gap between being a beginner and being fluent.

Genres: Friendship, Picture Books, Food, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2021

About the author

Erica S. Perl is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 40 popular and critically acclaimed books for young readers. She won the National Jewish Book Award and a Sydney Taylor Silver Medal for her middle grade novel, ALL THREE STOOGES. She is also the author of many well-loved picture books, including THE NINTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH and GOATILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS, as well as several book serieses (including the TRUTH OR LIE nonfiction series). She is the co-author, with Dolly Parton, of the BILLY THE KID picture book series. She is also the co-author, with R.J. Palacio, of WHITE BIRD: A NOVEL. A crowd-pleasing presenter, Erica is available for school visits, bookstore, and library events. Follow her @ericaperl on social media and visit her website to connect with her.

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the deceptive simplicity of this book, not to mention all the sly humor! The illustrations are cheerful and charming and the message of focusing on how we're more alike than we are different and to TALK to your friends when you have a disagreement is just as relevant for older kids as it is for the younger ones.

[Donna Gephart · Rating 5 out of 5]

You and your little ones will LOVE When Carrot Met Cookie. Both the text and the art are funny. But underneath the humor, there's a lovely story about sticking up for your friends and celebrating differences. We can all come together in agreeing that When Carrot Met Cookie is a fabulously fun friendship story!

[Tammar Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and cute, this easy-to-read book is full of dessert and veggie themed puns (Carrot is a great friend who always roots for you, and when things get hard, Cookie felt crummy.)
A sweet introduction to friendship troubles and celebrating differences.

[Trish Banda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book 🥰
Another cute book for the classroom.
Especially for younger children; way to bring up racism in a safe, non-scary way.

I would pair this book with MIXED: A COLORFUL STORY by Aree Chung

[Beth Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘When Carrot Met Cookie’ by Erica S. Perl, illustrated by Jonathan Fenske, is an adorable story about an unlikely friendship, but one which endures. While Carrot and Cookie are good friends, some of their other friends and family don’t understand their interest in each other. It makes them question their own relationship.

Full of cute puns and carrot and cookie humor, the illustrations perfectly capture the fun they have with each other and the sadness they feel when others don’t understand their companionship. There are cute nicknames for some of the food characters, as well as interesting twists that bring them back together, and allow them to show others just what is so special about the way they care for each other.

Not only is this book about friendship, kindness, and understanding, but it also shows how the way you feel should never be overshadowed by someone else’s opinion. A sweet, entertaining, creative story that will fast become a favorite among children and adults alike!

Beth Rodgers, Author of ‘Welcome to Chanu-Con!,’ a Children's Picture Book, and ‘Freshman Fourteen’ and ‘Sweet Fifteen,’ Young Adult Novels

*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Carrot Met Cookie is a charming story of friendship between two very different personalities--and food groups. Preschoolers will easily relate to the challenges and rewards of making new and different friends via Perl's edible protagonists while older children and adults will appreciate the clever word play. A perfect introduction to the heartfelt, punny and kids-of-all ages-friendly work of Erica Perl.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about friendship and being brave enough to speak up for friends.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

carrot and cookie have lots of fun together until other foods point out their differences. Will they let that stop them from being friends? A very cute book!

[Erica Perl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the author, but Goodreads is insisting I review this book. I'm obviously proud of it and I think Jonathan Fenske did an amazing job with the art. It's a classic story of food and friendship (and friendship between characters from different food groups). Also sends a good message on how to be inclusive in your friendships and why to speak up when others say things that come from a place of ignorance. Hope you like reading it as much as I liked writing it!

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute if somewhat obvious parable about not judging those who are different from you and speaking up for your friends. The book is "reader" sized but I wish it was a full-sized picture book. The text does not seem to use controlled vocabulary and would be more appropriate as a full sized picture book.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vegetables and desserts are not supposed to be friends, but Cookie and Carrot enjoy spending time together. They have so much in common. But Cookie’s friends, Cupcake and Lollipop, speak badly of Carrot. And Carrot’s friends, Cuke and Zuke, speak badly of Cookie. Is it possible for a vegetable and a dessert to be true friends?


Plenty of wordplay to have fun with.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A puntastic friendship story for early and emergent readers!

[Michelle Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Themes: food, friendship, sticking up for what you believe, sticking up for your friends

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book - funny with a great message. An easy reader that would be good to read aloud and share.

[skcocnaH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but words were a bit too repetitive and the message felt a smidgen didactic for me. By the end the puns were grating as well.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable story about the ups and downs that occur in friendships. Bright illustrations. Great sense of humor.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great SEL read!